Photo Diary: Best of Porto, Portugal

Porto is such a gorgeous city practically every view demands to be photographed. I spent six days in this city, which was plenty to time to see many sides of it. I must say I love it more than the capital Lisbon. Something is so charming about this northern town.

McDonald's Imperial: Art Deco McDonald's in Porto

McDonald's Imperial in a landmark in Porto. Named for the majestic eagle that rests above the sign, formerly the Imperial Cafe. When Mcdonald's took over they preserved much of the structure and decor, which makes for an ironic sight: fast food amidst historic luxury. 

At this point in my life, I don't eat at McDonald's anymore, so I merely went inside to photograph and capture any culturally-specific relics. 

The first thing I noticed were the large self-ordering stations, made to look like giant smartphones. Here guests order and pay first, and pick p their purchases at the counter. No need to talk to the staff. 

Although it was extremely crowded, I still got to see the beautiful chandeliers inside, as well as the stained glass designs. 

There were even finer details in the ceiling if you take the time to look up. 

In all, this is probably one of the most interesting McDonald's locations in the world. I'm glad I got to experience the richness of Porto's architectural history...without any of the fast food calories. 

Cemetery in Porto

While the cemetery in Lisbon was super close and convenient to where we were staying, the cemetery in Porto was a bit of a trek. First we had to ride the train 10 minutes to Casa de Musica stop, then walk another 10 minutes to the entrance. 

Thankfully, I was feeling slightly better from pregnancy sickness, and  cemeteries in Portugal are a photographer’s dream, so it was well worth the trip. 

Like the one in Lisbon, this cemetery was also composed of large mausoleums, but it had dirt roads instead of stone ones, and a really eerie crematorium. This cemetery was definitely creepier and more gothic than the one in Lisbon. 

Goths get pregnant

Met my friends for late-night tea and had to pull off my gothic finest while 7 months pregnant. 

None of the clothes I'm wearing are maternity clothes. The dress from American Apparel is just really loose, and the vintage blouse underneath....actually isn't buttened at all. Let's see how much longer I can get away with this #pregnancyhacks

Dress: American Apparel

Blouse: vintage

Belt: vintage

Glasses: Salt

Clutch: Coach

Shoes: Target

What I bought in Portugal

I didn’t go to Portugal for the shopping, but I managed to find a few unique things that could fit into the small backpack I brought. 

From left to right:

Tote from Livraria Lello

Coasters from Nescafe (they look like Portuguese tile)

Clothes from Zara - all maternity friendly

Books from Livraria Lello

Sardines – a popular Portuguese treat

Cafes of Porto

Porto had many more amazing cafes than even Lisbon did. Somehow the coffee and café culture has taken off here more than the bustling capital in the south. I had a small list when I first arrived, but after spending six days in the city I discovered many more than I anticipated. It's always good to have a few cafes make the list that were unplanned. In order of favorites:

Fabrica Roasters

Fabrica opened on the day I arrived in Porto, so I was one of the first customers. Like it's original branch in Lisbon, the coffee was excellent, but the atmosphere of the cafe surpassed all others. It was enormous and open air, with plenty of natural light to enjoy on both sunny and rainy days. I must have visited here at least three times. 

Combi

Combi is on the second floor of a high-end clothing store in downtown. It's a small cafe but I loved that we got the window seat and could look out on Porto's streets below. With the right seating, I could spend all day here easily.

Manifesto

Manifesto is located about a half-hour from downtown Porto, in the Matosinhos neighborhood by the ocean. It serves only black coffee, no cream of sugar, and some simple cookies. What is great about this place is the vibe, and the ability to read expensive magazines from all over the world. 

Vogue Café

Vogue cafe has it's own post due to it being a magazine-themed cafe like a few other I have visited in the world. This is not a laptop place, but rather a place to come and read magazine, and enjoy some exquisite European cuisine. 

Majestic Café

Majestic cafe is a landmark in Porto. Practically every tourist has to pass by here to photograph the front, and half as many wait in line for tables. Inside, it is a beautiful cafe with excellent food and drinks. 

Moustache Café

Moustache Cafe has an array of unique sweet drinks and cakes. Very popular for breakfast but there is tons of seating indoors and outdoors. 

Armazom Do Café

We stopped in this tiny cafe after seeing their special advertised on a sign, about $2 USD for a tea and cake. This is definitely the type of place to go hard on the laptop. Good beverages and snacks.

Honolulu cafe

Honolulu cafe serves some excellent food and drinks, perfect for breakfast. The Hawaiian theme is a bit unexpected in Porto, as are the crowds of men who come here for beers in the morning, but it was a unique experience. 

Café Progresso

Cafe Progresso is a popular breakfast joint serving coffee and pancakes. 

Terreria

We stopped at Terreria after we found that the cafe we were looking for was closed. We needed a drink and to use the bathroom, and were pleasantly surprised with this cafe in a fake-flower shop.